CLARKSVILLE - Members of the school board will seek input from the community on its building expansion program at a public meeting April 7.

Superintendent Don Johnston told board members at their regular meeting Thursday night that a decision needs to be made soon if the board plans to submit a millage proposal for the September school election.

"I would like to have this to the state department by late April, but the absolute deadline is May 10 if we're going to do anything this school election," Johnston said.

Board members have been looking at several options to expand the district's facilities. Johnston presented the options to administrators, who picked their top three choices.

One option received 11 of 12 votes from administrators. That option includes constructing a new junior high building near the current high school building. The junior high would house eighth and ninth grades, and seventh grade, which is currently included in the junior high, would become part of the middle school.

Kraus Middle School, according to the option preferred by most administrators, would be located in the present middle school and junior high buildings. Pyron Elementary, which houses second, third and fourth grades, would gain several rooms currently being used by Kraus Middle School.

Johnston said this option would allow each building to have its own cafeteria, a goal the board set to accomplish with the building program. Currently, the middle school and junior high share a cafeteria.

The plan would also include a new gymnasium that would be shared by the junior high and high school and would be big enough to host state tournaments, Johnston said.

Another benefit that this option contains, Johnston said, would be the elimination of busing for junior high students who participate in programs located at the high school campus such as agricultural and vocational education.

A road would also be constructed behind the buildings for bus traffic, which, according to Johnston, would help with traffic problems on Clark Road.

However, for the district to proceed with this plan, the baseball field would have to be relocated to allow for the construction of a new junior high.

At a special meeting in February, Johnston said he would contact property owners across from the high school campus and football practice field to see if there was interest in selling that property. He said the baseball field could be moved across the road to make room for a junior high.

Thursday, Johnston said he had spoken with Sara Lee Hosiery and First Baptist Church, owners of the two pieces of property, and both entities told him they weren't interested in selling.

"The land is not available from Sara Lee," he said. "I spoke with the elders at First Baptist Church, and they said they're not ready to sell that land, either."

Johnston said the church elders did indicate they could make some arrangement for the school district to use the property on a temporary basis.

Although Johnston said the option preferred by 11 of the administrators is not set in stone, he said a decision needs to be made quickly.

"In order to do everything we want to do, it has always cycled back to building a new junior high," he said.

Vicki Lyons, president of the Clarksville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce, told board members the community is experiencing growth, which should mean growth for the school district as well.

"You need buildings, and you need them fast," Lyons said. "We're looking at about a 30 percent growth in Johnson County in the next five or six years. To stay ahead of the game, you're going to have to address this issue.

"With industries expanding in the area, and with the commercial development, you will definitely need more space in the Clarksville School District."

The district's enrollment at the end of February was 2,336 students, compared to 2,243 in February 2004.

At the April 7 public meeting, board members will seek input from the community through study circles. Johnston said a representative from the Arkansas School Boards Association will help facilitate the process.

In other business, the board approved the resignations of Janie Chappell, kindergarten teacher, who is retiring. Other resignations included Ada Park, paraprofessional; Jody Copeland, bus driver; and Virga Hayes, teacher.